The PGA Tour will adopt a new look in 2028, but Robert MacIntyre feels that the Scottish Open, co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour, needs to remain exactly where it is on the schedule.
The PGA Tour will effectively be split in two, with the top-tier competing in the ‘Championship Series’ events, and those on tier two playing in the ‘Challenger Series’, with no upward or downward movement permitted.
There is, however, an ‘elevated’ international series of events intended to take place between September and January, but MacIntyre feels that including the Scottish Open – his home Open and scene of one of his most memorable victories in 2024 – during the overseas Autumn events would be a mistake.
“I know there’s an international swing,” he told the media at The Renaissance Club.
“I think they were planning on having that the end of August to whenever it was. I think they have got to make exceptions at times.
“I think the Scottish Open has got to be before The Open. I think it will be. I think there will be exemptions. I don’t know, I have not spoken to anybody about it. I personally think The Scottish Open is going to be totally fine, if I’m being honest with you.”
The win at The Renaissance Club in 2024 came just over a month after his first PGA Tour victory – the RBC Canadian Open – and he admitted that considerations of how the Canadian Open will fit into the new PGA Tour plans mirror those of the Scottish.
“I actually asked the same question about the Canadian Open,” MacIntyre said, but admitted that it would be others who would make the decisions. “I just leave that to the powers to be.”
Earlier, Rory McIlroy questioned whether events such as the Scottish Open could ever be incorporated into the ‘Championship Series’ given the closed nature of the series and the National Opens being open by name and nature, and MacIntyre added that the idea of a $20 million in Scotland doesn’t seem plausible.
“I see it being a Rolex Series/high-end European Tour event,” the Scot said. “I think it would be a bit mad to put a $20 million event in Scotland when the world we live in today, It’s not the same as America It’s more realistic.”
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